Chilliwack

The archeological record shows evidence of Stó:lō people in the Fraser Valley, or S'ólh Téméxw, 10,000 years ago. Permanent structures in the Chilliwack area date from around 5,000 years ago. At the time of the first contact with Europeans it is estimated that there were as many as 40,000 people living within Stó:lō territory.

In 1857, gold was discovered in the Fraser Canyon. By 1859, over 40,000 gold miners had trekked to the goldfields, most travelling through the Chilliwack area. By the mid-1860s, several farms had grown up around the steamboat landings on the Fraser River called Miller's Landing, Minto Landing, Sumas Landing and Chilliwack Landing.

The Township of Chilliwack was incorporated in 1873, the third municipality in British Columbia. Settlement took place along the Fraser River at Chilliwack Landing. Steamboats were the main mode of transportation, carrying goods and passengers between Chilliwack and New Westminster. After the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885, many residents began to cross the Fraser River at Minto Landing to catch the train at Harrison Mills.

With little room for expansion along the river, the commercial area of the town moved south to the junction of the New Westminster-Yale Wagon Road, Wellington Avenue and Young Road, called "Five Corners". A large subdivision called Centreville was built in 1881. to the city's identity.[7]

North side: Also referred to as "Chilliwack Proper Village West", the north side covers the area from the Trans-Canada Highway in the south, to the Fraser River in the north, and includes the communities of Camp River, Chilliwack Mountain, Downtown Chilliwack, East Chilliwack, Fairfield Island, Rosedale and Popkum. Downtown Chilliwack is the historical urban centre of the city. Several cultural attractions, such as the Prospera Centre, Chilliwack Cultural Centre and the Eagle Landing Shopping Centre are located there, as well as key government buildings, such as city hall, FVRD offices, and the Provincial Court of British Columbia.

South side: The south side includes the communities of Atchelitz, Cultus Lake Park, Greendale, Ryder Lake, Sardis, Promontory Heights, Vedder Crossing, and Yarrow. Sardis is the urban core of the south side and is a popular shopping destination.

Drive east on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) from Vancouver for about 100 km until you get to the city center. You will see the "London Drugs" and "Cottonwood Mall" sign before Exit 119.

• Ebus, toll-free: +1 877-769-3287. Travels daily between Kamloops and Vancouver, and Kelowna and Vancouver on two separate routes. Both routes have stops in Merritt, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and Surrey. Same day transfers at Kamloops to and from Prince George are available on three days per week per direction. (updated Mar 2022)
• Mountain Man Mike's Bus Service, ☏ +1-778-382-7729, info@mountainmanmikes.ca. Twice per week service between Kaslo and Vancouver with stops in Balfour, Nelson, Castlegar, Christina Lake, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Rock Creek, Osoyoos, Keremeos, Princeton, Manning Provincial Park, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Langley, and New Westminster. This service provider also offers a weekly route between Kalso and Calgary via Nelson. (updated Mar 2022)
• Rider Express, toll-free: +1-833-583-3636. Multiple days per week service along the Trans-Canada Highway from between Calgary and Vancouver with stops in Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, Golden, Revelstoke, Sicamous, Salmon Arm, Sorrento, Chase, Kamloops, Merritt, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and Surrey. From Calgary, this service provider offers routes that enable passengers to reach Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon. (updated Mar 2022)

See also: Rail travel in Canada

• VIA Rail Canada, toll-free: +1-888-842-7245. Operates The Canadian up to three trips per week between Toronto and Vancouver with stops in both directions in medium to large cities and tourist destinations such as Sudbury, Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper, and Kamloops. This route can offer a scenic view of the Canadian Rockies, depending on the train schedule, as the train operates day and night. This service connects with another route that travels between Jasper and Prince Rupert. (updated Mar 2022)
  • For westbound trips from Toronto to Vancouver, the train stops at 🌍 Chilliwack station.
  • For eastbound trips from Vancouver to Toronto, the nearest station where train stops is north of the Fraser River at 🌍 Agassiz station in Kent.

Chilliwack has an airport popular with recreational pilots, but no scheduled commercial flights. The closest commercial airports are Abbotsford (YXX ^IATA), Bellingham, WA (BLI ^IATA), and Vancouver (YVR ^IATA). Vancouver's is by far the largest of those airports.

• BC Transit (Chilliwack Transit System), ☏ +1-604-854-3232. Covers the main parts of Chilliwack with about a dozen routes. Transit is centred on Cottonwood Mall and Yale Road in downtown Chilliwack. The cash fare is $2 ($1.75 for seniors) in 2022. (updated Mar 2022)
  • Operates bus route 66 between Burnaby and downtown Chilliwack with stops in Langley and Abbotsford. Operates multiple times daily.
  • Operates bus route 71 between downtown Chilliwack and Harrison Hot Springs with stops in Agassiz. Operates multiple times per day from Monday to Saturday with Sunday service added during summer. From Agassiz, there is a connection with bus route 72 to Hope.

• Cheam Taxi, ☏ +1 604-847-1111. (updated Jul 2022)
• Chilliwack Taxi, ☏ +1 604-795-9111, info@chilliwacktaxi.com. (updated Jul 2022)

Chilliwack is well known for its fresh corn on the cob, always sold uncooked with the husk still over the corn. When in season, expect to find stands set up with signs that read "Chilliwack Corn." These stands can be found in much of the Fraser Valley and sometimes can be found in Vancouver. While the corn is delicious and it will be fresh at these stands, expect to pay a significant premium compared to buying corn at a grocery store. Expect to find this corn around August and September.

• 🌍 Sparkes Corn Barn, 46265 Prairie Central Rd, ☏ +1 778-704-0671. One of numerous seasonal stands that sell Chilliwack corn. (updated May 2023)

• 🌍 The Book Man, 45939 Wellington Ave, ☏ +1 604-792-4595, info@bookman.ca. 9:30AM-5:30PM daily, holidays 10AM-5PM. New and used books. (updated Aug 2022)

A number of pottery artisans operate in the area. Call the studios to confirm they will be open.

• 🌍 Schellenberg Pottery (No 3. Rd at Kirk Ave), ☏ +1 604-823-4490. (updated Mar 2023)
• 🌍 Greendale Pottery, 110 - 45473 Ariel Place, ☏ +1 604-846-6440. (updated Mar 2023)

• The Chilliwack Progress, ☏ +1 604-702-5550. (updated May 2023)

• 🌍 Chilliwack General Hospital, 45600 Menholm Rd, ☏ +1 604-795-4141. Has an emergency department that operates 24/7. (updated Apr 2023)